GOP booth sells $3 Obama bills at state fair

Share this story

SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. -- A $3 bill has both Democrats and Republicans talking.

The controversial bill features Barack Obama wearing a headdress, propelling a widespread myth that he's Muslim. Some call it a joke, but not everyone's laughing.

Carol Ronken is, in fact fuming over the bill which she found at the Evergreen State Fair's Republican Party booth.

"It's racist. It's disgusting," she said.

On the bill the words "da man" are printed under his face, perpetuating the myth. Obama is, in fact, a Christian.

"To make money on top of it even makes it worse," Ronken said. "They weren't giving it way; they were selling it for $3."

Ronken snapped a picture, then called the local newspaper.

Republican county chair Geri Modrell says she never approved the bill.

"It's not the policy of this party to use this low-level of humor," she said.

Calling the bills a bad joke and nothing more, Modrell says she has asked volunteers to put them away.

Somebody thought it was funny. Somebody thought it was funny, that's all," she said.

Those bills are no longer being sold at the fair, but they're available from several sources on the Internet. One Web site is even selling a pack of 25 for $5.

Cheri De-Shaw, whose booth sat right across from the Republican Party's at the fair, says she's heard an earful from visitors.

"One lady was very irate but the other nine or ten people I spoke to were concerned," she said. "They didn't feel that was proper."

Modrell says she's working to track down the person responsible, but says she doesn't plan to conduct an extensive investigation. She says it's tough enough to recruit volunteers and she doesn't want to alienate another.

Most Popular

While seated at a Starbucks, a homeless man came in and sat nearby. His scent was unpleasant and people looked at him and rolled their eyes. He was simply doing what we were all doing, drinking coffee and taking advantage of free WIFI. He brought his dog, Legacy, who was well behaved.

Lufthansa has switched aircraft equipment on their daily Seattle-Frankfurt route to a 747-400, seen here departing SEA-TAC today. They are now the only airline offering daily 747 passenger service at SEA-TAC. The upgraded service began March 29, 2015.

After spending the morning shooting pictures at other fields in the area, I was on my way home and noticed the unique colors in this field of flowers. I made a mental note as to its location so I could rendezvous back the following day.